Valentine’s Day Project Sends Letters To The Troops

By Eliza Hallabeck

Just over a week after Reed Intermediate School students sent out boxes of letters to troops serving overseas, the first response to the St Valentine’s Day Project was received on February 3, according to project chairperson Donna Monteleone-Randle.

From Girl Scouts to volunteering students in multiple schools in the district, this was the largest year yet for the St Valentine’s Day Project, which started as a suggestion from a second grade teacher at Sandy Hook School a couple years ago.

About 2,500 letters were mailed out from the school district last week, according to Ms Monteleone-Randle, over multiple days.

Members of the Newtown Post Office visited schools to help students complete the project by decorating cards, putting postage on the letters and boxes, and carrying the final boxes to the post office trucks.

At Sandy Hook School students gathered after school on Thursday, January 22, to stamp letters, and to give them to the Newtown Post Office to be mailed.

At Reed Intermediate School the project grew with more letters the following day on Friday, January 23, when designated classes participated in decorating letters with stamps, boxing them with candy and toothbrushes, and sending them off with representatives of the Newtown Post Office.

Stephanie Podewell, an aide to US Representative Chris Murphy, attended the day at Reed Intermediate School to bring the school a certificate showing Rep Murphy’s appreciation for the school’s efforts.

“Anything that involves the kids and helping the guys overseas, to me, is great,” said First Selectman Joe Borst, who also attended the event at Reed.

Other groups that participated in the project this year include Daisy Troop 50166 from Middle Gate School, Brownie Troop 50113 from Sandy Hook School, Brownie Troop 50595 from Head O’ Meadow School, Brownie Troop 50174 and 50335 from Hawley School, Girl Scout Troop 50512 from Reed Intermediate School, Girl Scout Troop 50611 from Middle Gate School, Girl Scout Troop 355 from Hawley School, members of the Respect, Responsibility and Diversity Club at Middle Gate School, Boy Scout Troop 270 who meet at the Dodgingtown Fire House, members of the Newtown Middle School Student Council, and members of the Newtown Middle School InterAct Club.